Proverbs 18:4 · American Standard Version
Proverbs 18:4 in the Original Hebrew
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Proverbs 18:4 in Other Translations
| KJV | The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. |
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| WEB | The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. |
| ASV | The words of a man’s mouth areasdeep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook. |
| YLT | Deep waters are the words of a man’s mouth, The fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook. |
| WBT | The words of a man's mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the well-spring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook. |
| DBY | The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, [and] the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook. |
Commentary on Proverbs 18:4
Expositions from classic Bible commentators.
John Gill · Proverbs 18:4
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters,.... The words of a great and mighty man; of an excellent and valuable man, as Jarchi; or of a wise man, as Aben Ezra. The doctrines which such a man has imbibed, and his heart is full of and his mouth utters, are like to "waters", pure, purifying, and refreshing; to "deep waters", which make no noise, and cannot be easily fathomed: such are the deep mysteries of grace, the wisdom of God in a mystery, spoken among them that are perfect; of which a good man makes no boast, but humbly declares; out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth speaks;
and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook; there is a spring of spiritual wisdom and knowledge in him; a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life; and from thence it flows freely and constantly; communicating itself liberally unto others, and ministering grace to the hearers, for their edification.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Proverbs 18:4
Wise speech is like an exhaustless stream of benefit.
Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on Proverbs 18 →
Cross References for Proverbs 18:4
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Questions about Proverbs 18:4
What does Proverbs 18:4 say?
Proverbs 18:4 in the American Standard Version reads: “The words of a man’s mouth areasdeep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.” Read it in the full context of Proverbs 18, alongside the classic commentary on this page.
Where is Proverbs 18:4 found in the Bible?
Proverbs 18:4 is in the book of Proverbs, chapter 18, verse 4, in the Old Testament.
What Bible translation is Proverbs 18:4 shown in?
This is the American Standard Version (ASV), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render Proverbs 18:4 in the table on this page.
The similitudes here seem to be elegantly transposed. 1. The well-spring of wisdom is as deep waters. An intelligent knowing man has in him a good treasure of useful things, which furnishes him with something to say upon all occasions that is pertinent and profitable. This is as deep waters, which make no noise, but never run dry. 2. The words of such a man's mouth are as a flowing brook. What he sees cause to speak flows naturally from him and with a great deal of ease, and freedom, and natural fluency; it is clean and fresh, it is cleansing and refreshing; from his deep waters there flows what there is occasion for, to water those about him, as the brooks do the low grounds.